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Madge Digest #152 August 2018

Submitted by Renaee on Sun, 08/19/2018 - 15:46

Monsanto to pay $ 289 million in damages to a dying man who used Roundup

Dewayne Johnson is 42 and dying of cancer. The jury found he had been harmed by using Roundup and that “there was “clear and convincing evidence” that Monsanto’s officials acted with “malice or oppression” in failing to adequately warn of the risks.” Read the full story in this Guardian article.

The trial revealed that even in the early 1980s scientific research raised doubts about safety. As evidence of harm mounted Monsanto worked to create science to serve its own purposes rather than protect the public. They ghostwrote studies and worked with regulators to promote positive safety messages and suppress evidence of harm. We are very grateful to Mr Johnson for being prepared to take this case while being so ill. It seems that thousands more cases will follow.

Let’s transform food..talks to spark ideas and networks

It takes more than 4000 chemicals to grow, process, preserve and pack our foods. We need a thorough rethink of how we can transition out of the era of poisons while being realistic about what we are asking farmers and others to do. The media is now reporting on alternatives to pesticide use by Councils.

Show this powerpoint to your Council and ask them for clean weed control. There are also alternatives to glyphosate in farming. We need informed discussions of where to from here. Excitingly, Dr Jonathan Latham, a US scientist with huge knowledge of the flaws of poison based food, is currently touring Australia. His series of talks matches him with innovative Australian farmers and healthy food advocates to map our way forward.